Compare towns
Dover vs Castleton vs Northfield vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
Wardsboro has the most homeowners (90.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dover | Castleton | Northfield | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.